1. On January 17, 1893, the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition opened its doors to the public. The exposition was held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World and it attracted over 27 million visitors during its six-month run.

2. In 1920, prohibition became the law of the land in the United States. On January 17 of that year, liquor sales in Illinois were officially prohibited. This led to the rise of organized crime, which controlled the bootlegging and illegal alcohol trade in the state.

3. January 17, 1950, marked the opening of the first McDonald’s restaurant in Illinois. The restaurant was located in Des Plaines, a suburb of Chicago, and was the second location of the fast food chain.

4. Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached on January 17, 2009, and later removed from office. He was convicted of a number of corruption charges, including trying to sell then-president-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat.

5. On January 17, 2016, Chicago celebrated 100 years of the famous Chicago flag. The flag features four six-pointed stars, representing Fort Dearborn, the Chicago Fire, the World’s Columbian Exposition, and the Century of Progress Exposition. It has become a symbol of pride for the city and is a common sight throughout the area.